Asian Smokers’ Quitline promoted on May 31 World No Tobacco Day, Free services available in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese

(SAN FRANCISCO) As World No Tobacco Day approaches on May 31, the Asian Smokers’ Quitline (ASQ) funded by Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reminds all tobacco users to start a plan to quit smoking for a healthier life ahead.

ASQ, which has received funds from CDC since 2012, provides free evidence-based quit smoking services in Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean and Vietnamese to over 20,000 individuals in the U.S. Eligible tobacco users can receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches for joining ASQ’s program to quit smoking.

“As World No Tobacco Day approaches, we want to remind all tobacco users that it’s never too late to quit,” said Dr. Shu-Hong Zhu, Professor of Family Medicine and Public Health at the University of California, San Diego. “By taking the first step and calling or texting the ASQ, individuals can access the support they need to quit tobacco and improve their health.”

According to ASQ, tobacco use claims the lives of millions of people worldwide every year, including a significant number of individuals in the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese communities. Despite the fact, many tobacco users struggle to quit due to the addictive nature of tobacco products.

ASQ says that there is a good news for the tobacco users to have quit aids which would make quitting easier by reducing withdrawal symptoms.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a number of the Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) products for assisting the tobacco users to quit smoking, including nicotine patch which can be worn on the skin like a Band-Aid to give nicotine to the body through the skin; nicotine gum which is chewed and parked between the cheek and gums to give nicotine to the body through the lining of the mouth; nicotine lozenge which looks like hard candy and dissolves in the mouth to give nicotine to the body through the lining of the mouth. All these three products can be found over the counter.

“Although NRT are found to be helpful, they are not ‘magic bullets’ that guarantee smokers will quit. However, NRT work better if you get some coaching on tips and tools to quit smoking successfully,” according to a statement released by ASQ.

The ASQ is staffed by trained quit coaches who understand the unique challenge and culture faced by tobacco users in the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese communities.

The ASQ provides quitlines in 4 Asian languages, Cantonese, Mandarin, Korean or Vietnamese. Tobacco users can receive free coaching sessions and materials. Eligible smokers will receive a free two-week supply of nicotine patches.

There are three channels, texting, online registration and calling from phones, for the public to get connected with ASQ.

For texting, tobacco users may text one of these in-language key phrases [戒煙/戒烟/금연/Bỏ hút thuốc ] to 66819 to receive daily texts in Chinese, Korean or Vietnamese during the first vital weeks of quitting with ASQ.

These messages are tailored to assist the smokers at key points throughout their quitting journey, including practical tips for quitting and staying quit. They can also text questions and quit coaches will respond to the messages, according to ASQ.

For online registration, tobacco users can also sign up online at www.asiansmokersquitline.org. Reading materials will be emailed after the registration is completed. After completing the online enrollment with ASQ, the quit advisors will contact tobacco users to see if they are eligible for a free two-week supply of nicotine patches.

Smokers and their family members and friends are welcome to call the ASQ multi-lingual quitlines. The ASQ’s professional tobacco advisors are available to provide tips and advice on how to support others in quitting.

During the operation hours, Monday through Friday, 7am to 9pm Pacific Time, Chinese-, Korean-, or Vietnamese-speaking quit coaches will answer the phone according to the phone number dialed.